Improvement in hoop-skirts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CESAR NEUMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN HooP-sKmTs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,355, datcd October20, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (LESER NEUMANN, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hoop-Skirts; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification. in which- Figure lrepresents a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or topview of the same.

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to make the waist-band and thebustlerings of a hoopskirt self-adjustable, according to the varyingthickness ofthe body of thewearer. In order to effect this purpose, itis not sufficient to make the'waist-band alone self-adjusting, becauseby increasing the length of the same the rotation of its different partstoward the adjoining ring is changed, and unless the length ofthe ringis increased in a corresponding ratio a strain is exerted on the tapesconnecting said ring with the waist-band, and said tapes are liable totear offin a short time. This difficulty is avoided and the object ofthe invention fully attained by making both the waist-band and thebustle-rings self-adjustin g in such a manner that the various parts ofthe same retain the same relative position toward eachother, and thetapes are not eX- posed to an undue strain whether the length of thewaist-band be increased or decreased, and the proper shape of the skirtis preserved.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A is the waist-band, from which the bustlerings B B and the hoops C aresuspended by means of tapes D in the ordinary manner. The waist-band Ais provided with three (more or less) elastic strips, a c', which aresecured to the leather or other material from which the Waist-band ismade by stitching or in any other desirable manner. The elastic stripsare made of shirred india-rubber or other suitable material sufficientlystrong to give a firm hold to the Waist-band around the body of theperson wearing the same, and at the same time allowing said waist-bandto stretch easily and to accommodate itself to the circumference of thebody.

l The rings B B', which form the bustle of the hoop-skirt, are made oftwo or more parts, which are connected to each other by sliding clasps bb, allowing said rings to expand or contract at pleasure. The clasps bare in line with the elastic strips a on the sides of the waist-band,and the clasps b are in line with the elastic strip a on the back, thetapes D being secured to the waistband and to the rings on the sides ofthe elastic strips and clasps, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. If the strips a expand, and the next adjoining ring, B, wasnot allowed to expand correspondingly, a strain would be exerted on thetapes adjoining said strips, exerting a tendf ency to tear them oft'from the wrings or waistband.l This injurious strain would extend in acertain measure to the fastenings of the succeeding tapes andbustle-rings, and, furthermore, the bustle would be thrown out of shape.The same effect would take place if an expansion ofthe strip a in thewaistband should take place, and the clasp b would be made rigid. Bycombining the self-adjusting waist-band with the sliding clasps of thebustlerings, the skirt adjusts itself freely to the thickness of thebody, the bustle retains its proper shape, and the tapes are neverexposed to an excessive strain.

I do not claim as my invention the use of elastic strips in thewaist-band of a hoopskirt, neither do I claim the the `application ofsliding clasps to the hoops; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of the self-adjustin g Waistband A, with elastic strips aa, in combibination with the bustle-rings B B, provided with slidingclasts b b', arranged in relation to' the strip a a and tapes D, in themanner and for the purpose substantially as shown and described.

CESAR NEUMANN. Witnesses:

J. W. CooMEs, A. E. BEACH.

